William H. Clark - Reminiscences of the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Infantry

Reminiscences of the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Infantry — read online for free the complete book (whole text) full work

Below is the text of the book, divided by pages. System saving the place of the last page read, allows you to conveniently read the book "Reminiscences of the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Infantry" online for free, without having to search again every time where you left off. Put a bookmark, and you can go to the page where you finished reading at any time.

Light

Font size:

↓

↑

Georgia Tahoma Arial Verdana

Reset

Interval:

↓

↑

Bookmark:

Make

123

William H. Clark

Reminiscences of the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Infantry

Published by Good Press, 2019

EAN 4064066143626

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I.

Table of Contents

THE FAREWELL.

Table of Contents

t is the afternoon of a summer day, with but little breeze more than enough to gently sway the folds of a new and handsome National Flag, which is in full view of the multitude who encompass it. We have taken the reader, in thought, to the spacious and beautiful Common in Worcester, on the 15th of August, 1862.

A few words concerning this great gathering; the close attention of all being drawn to the speakers stand in its centre. Citizens of all classes are here, gazing and listening, representing the population of the city and suburbs. Its inner circles are clothed in the uniform of their countrys service, and stand in military order. To them, as a Regiment, through their commander, who is conspicuous on the stand by his uncovered head and noble bearing, the Flag is being presented: a touching farewell act of the ladies of Worcester.

It is delivered with fitting words, and now not only the soldier, but the orator speaks. Never, while memory lasts, will the picture be erased from the mind of one, at least; the central figure, the devoted Wells: so soon, comparatively, to be the lamented.

The throng breaks, and the Regiment gradually prepares to leave the city for fields of duty, not to shrink from fields of danger. Hark! as they slowly recede from sight, and the clangor of martial music is hushed, can you not almost distinguish, stealing through yonder casement where a lonely heart is thinking of the absent ones, the plaintive words:

Thinking no less of them, But loving our country the more; Weve sent them forth to fight for the flag, That our fathers before them bore. Brave boys are they, Gone at their countrys call; And yet, and yet, we cannot forget That many brave boys must fall.

---

CHAPTER II.

Table of Contents

FUN IN CAMP.

Table of Contents

eary and monotonous indeed, would be many of the days spent in camp by the soldier, did not something crop out of an amusing nature, either in the proper members of the camp or in some of its motley group of followers.

One such safety-valve was found in a stout, unctuous darkey, who seemed to be the right hand man of our regimental sutler. Worthy Oscar! I know not whether thou dost still walk on this earth of ours, or hast entered the spirit land which so many of thy brave fellow-Africans reached, who with a more warlike spirit than thine, died on fields of duty and glory. Peace to thee, in any event, for none more faithfully performed his duty.

On one occasion, however, the even tenor of his way was rudely broken in upon, to the great amusement of the large number who happened to be in view of that part of the camp at the time. It seems that a private soldier of mischievous propensities had been for some time teasing our colored friend by thrusting a burning twig from the camp fire into his face; yet during the ordeal he had kept his patience, and only tried to get rid of his tormentor by entreaties. Suddenly he turns upon him, forbearance having ceased to be a virtue in the case, and the two fall heavily to the ground; Oscar having decidedly the advantage of his enemy, which he as decidedly keeps. The roar of laughter which followed this unexpected discomfiture was probably more pleasant to the ears of Oscar than to those of his antagonist.

Another case in which our hero was concerned related to the legitimate business of the sutlers tent, and was told in Company E to the amusement of many, by poor Hunter, who afterwards while in the performance of duty at the Shenandoah, fell through an opening in the bridge in an unguarded moment and was drowned.

The story was something like this: Well yer see de feller he comes up mongst de crowd, an says he, I wants a fried pie. So I takes de fried pie an hands it to him, an looks for de money; but somehow de feller gits shook up in de crowd, an I havnt seen him; nor de money, nor de fried pie since. This was given with capital powers of imitation, and never failed to bring down the house.

There is something which irresistably appeals, in many phases of the African character, to our American sense of humor. At the same time we discover running through it a vein of sentiment, which blending with the other, dignifies the effect.

Way down upon de Swanee Riber, Far, far away; Deres where my heart am turning eber, Deres where de old folks stay. When I was in de fields a hoeing, Near set ob sun; So glad to hear de horn a blowing, Telling dat de work was done. O, den de darkies frolic sweetly, Banjo in tune; Dinah and Phillis dressed so neatly, Dance by de big round moon.

---

CHAPTER III.

Table of Contents

HARPERS FERRY.

Table of Contents

or some weeks the Thirty-Fourth had remained in Washington, D. C., furnishing daily heavy details of neatly equipped men for guard duty; principally to be employed in guarding the Carroll and Old Capitol Prisons. During this time the general soldierly deportment of the rank and file, together with the fine appearance of the regiment on dress parade, attracted much attention and called forth many complimentary expressions from the residents of Washington.

But marching orders do not stop to take counsel of their subjects, and on a well-remembered evening in July, 1863, they turned our quiet barracks into a scene of bustle and confusion. A ride of a few hours over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad brought us into the immediate vicinity of Harpers Ferry.

The activity which prevailed throughout our force on the morning of July 14th made it evident to all that a movement across the Potomac was intended. All needful preparations having been made, a lively cannonade was opened from the heights above, under cover of which our force embarked in pontoon boats that were near at hand, and crossing, passed through the deserted streets up to the higher ground beyond; dislodging a small body of the enemy which had been holding possession. As the afternoon advanced a considerable force of cavalry passed through the place, file following file in a seemingly endless succession, till the eye was wearied with attempting to take in the living current. Our occupation of Harpers Ferry, begun under these circumstances, was destined to continue for many months, with the exception of an occasional brief visit to Martinsburg towards the close of winter.

Perhaps the most notable incident of our service during these months was a trip to Harrisonburg, about one hundred miles into Virginian territory, over that noble production of the road-makers art, the Shenandoah Valley turnpike. This demonstration, which was successfully and safely accomplished, was doubtless intended as a diversion in favor of the raid at that time being executed by Gen. Averill, with his much larger force. Although we were closely followed by a brigade of the enemy, in our rapid and forced march homewards; yet by the intervention of favorable events, the friendly shadow of the Maryland heights was reached with no loss from our hazardous attempt at bearding the lion in his den, as our adventure was described by the Richmond

Next page

123

Light

Font size:

↓

↑

Georgia Tahoma Arial Verdana

Reset

Interval:

↓

↑

Bookmark:

Make

Similar books «Reminiscences of the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Infantry»

Look at similar books to Reminiscences of the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Infantry. We have selected literature similar in name and meaning in the hope of providing readers with more options to find new, interesting, not yet read works.

Francis J. Parker

The Story of the Thirty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry

Thomas Edward Merchant

Eighty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (Infantry.)

Daniel Oakey

History of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry: Beverly Ford

Marion Morrison

A History of the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Frank van Lunteren

Birth of a Regiment: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Sicily and Salerno

Otto Korfes

The German 66th Infantry Regiment in the First World War: The German Perspective

John A. Sloan

Reminiscences of the Guilford Grays, Co. B., 27th N.C. Regiment

G. W. Lewis

The Campaigns of the 124th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with Roster and Roll of Honor

Bracken

The Verdun Regiment: the 151st Infantry regiment in the Battle of Verdun 1916

Rick Barram

The 72nd New York Infantry in the Civil War. A History and Roster

S. L. A. Marshall

506 Parachute infantry Regiment in Normandy Drop

Phil Nordyke

Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II

Discussion, reviews of the book Reminiscences of the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Infantry and just readers' own opinions. Leave your comments, write what you think about the work, its meaning or the main characters. Specify what exactly you liked and what you didn't like, and why you think so.